Voluntary Leaves From Airlines
Bring Benefits, Time With Kids

By

Susan Carey and

Martha Brannigan Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Jan. 2, 2002 12:01 a.m. ET

Jill Mills, a Continental Airlines 737 co-pilot, has been grounded and unpaid since Oct. 1, a victim of the industry's downsizing after the terrorist attacks dried up travel demand. Ditto for Carolyn Andreis, who deices and cleans Northwest Airlines jets in Detroit, and Debi Cordle, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant.

But none of the women are complaining. All took voluntary leaves from their airlines, and while they gave up their...